The ethical nature of the supply chain
The supply chain is the movement of goods and materials from suppliers and manufacturers right the way through to customers. In today’s society being ethical throughout the supply chain is an important issue being discussed throughout the fashion world. Due to fast fashion becoming so common brands are under pressure to supply goods to the consumer at such a fast pace and so frequently. This means they are giving their suppliers such large orders and a short amount of time to complete these orders, resulting in unfair treatment of factory works across the garment production industry.
One example where unethical treatment of workers has resulted in a huge tragedy is the Rana Plaza disaster. The factory Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed on Wednesday 24th April 2013 with thousands of employees trapped inside, causing 1140 deaths. Two extra floors were illegally added to the building which were then filled with heavy machinery and the building could not hold the weight of this. On the morning of 24th April factory workers were sent home because a large crack had been found on a pillar inside the building and it was at risk of collapsing. However, due to the factory owners having such large orders to complete they told workers if they did not return to work they would not only lose their job, but also the wages they had earnt so far. Poverty is very common in this country and the workers needed their jobs and their wages, they could not afford to not work so many returned to the factory even when they knew the risk they were taking. This shows the unethical nature of the supply chain because many people lose their lives due to fast fashion across the world. Consumers except styles in store to change weekly and want fashion at good value prices and this results in factory works who are producing these garments being treated unfairly.
Another ethical issue within the garment production industry is refugees working in factories and being exploited. There are three million Syrian refugees working in factories in Turkey, 60% of the workforce in Turkey is unregistered; therefore, they do not have legal protection and are exploited financially and physically. Many workers often do 13 hour shifts and work 7 days a week. A man dropped dead at his machine in a garment production factory in Turkey due to exhaustion and the factory only paid £180 compensation to his family. This treatment is so unethical and the worker’s lives aren’t even being regarded as important. Big brand such as ASOS and Mango have been known to have clothing made in many of these factories so brands with a big influence in the fashion industry aren’t always being ethical across their supply chain.